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Location: Norbulingka
Today we said goodbye to Dharamsala and the Tsechokling Monastery and hit the road for Norbulingka. We are all excited to travel to other parts of India, but sad to leave what has been our home for the past two weeks. After a 45 minute drive, we reached the beautiful Norbulingka; a replica of the Dalai Lama’s summer home in Tibet. Our hotel is fantastic. Each room is themed with a different Tibetan Buddhist creature. My room, for example, is the fire peacock. There are free incense and postcards on the desks and giant colorful paintings on several of the walls. In the closet, we’re stocked up on snacks including cookies, cashews, and chips. The surrounding area is like paradise. There are bubbling streams and ponds, as well as towering trees and prayer flags everywhere. We took a tour of the place, ate lunch, and then went to explore the surrounding town. It’s peaceful and cute. We walked to a nearby nunnery and saw two sheep on the way. After walking around a bit, we went back to our luxurious rooms and relaxed. It was awesome. The day ended with a delicious dinner at the Norbulingka cafe.